It's Been a Long Time...

... since my last post.  There's been a lot going on and I'm slow to recover, I suppose.  Here's a recap of all my justifications for putting off my blog:

March

Planning for the first wedding in our family was a big project.  There was the ordeal of finding something to wear.  It's a challenge to find a nice outfit for the mother of the groom.  I looked for something that would be appropriate for a garden wedding.  Classic, breezy slacks with a matching, slightly tailored jacket.  Not in white but definitely not in black, either.  That's all I wanted.   How hard could it be?  

What I found was mostly career outfits that would have looked like I was going to a power lunch.    Nothing.  This drove me to look at dresses.  Words can't describe.  I don't do dresses or skirts.  I don't like short sleeves.  I don't do strapless or sleeveless.   I don't do ruffles or flimsy.   It was during this time I considered becoming a fashion designer for all the middle aged women out there who are not into that toned muscled look. 

I also considered wearing an Indian tunic.  You know, the long sleeve, long shirts that cover ones rump and have long graceful slacks.  They are lovely.  Might as well flex multicultural muscles if you don't have them on your arms, right?  I didn't go that route, but was so tempted.

Ever since Colson got his first manicure and pedicure before his chemo, he's been wanting to return to the nail salon.  Since I was going, how could I refuse him?  So, before we left for the wedding in Savannah, we both got a nail makeover.  

The wedding was spectacular.  My daughter in law was gorgeous and my son never took his eyes off her.  It's great having a front row seat at these events.

As you can see, I found something...  don't know why this photo is so blurry... really...  I didn't do it...

St.Patty's Day, March 17th

Some people really get into this fun holiday.  Take my sister and her husband, Tim.  They love it.  They hosted the family get together.  

We also celebrated my mom and Tim's birthday that day.

I think this is the first time we've ever celebrated Tim's birthday, as a clan.   There's a lot of men in the family who love to cook: my husband, my sons, my brother's in law...  

My husband, He-Man, was thrilled to give Tim a pressure cooker.  Tim was thrilled to receive it.  I think for the next thirty minutes they discussed how to cook meat quickly in one of these things.  

And I just love these two.  What a blessing to have them in such good health.  And I firmly believe this is the biggest reason we have such a great extended family: a reverence for our Almighty Creator.

 

April

Spring birthdays.  My daughter, Smarty-Girl turned 21!  One of my other sisters has a birthday, too.  This is my other sister with her two spring chicks.  

Once again, the clan gathers to celebrate.  This is also our annual fish fry at my parent's home.  My dad fries the fish he caught from his pond and we just party.

Then it's time to head outside for the "Beat the Piñata While Trying Not to Clobber Someone in the Head" event.  Just a little side note here: look at the two newlyweds in the background.  She's in the orange shirt.  Then there's He-Man and my dad in the rockers on the front porch.  Meanwhile, Tim is doing a little dance, still excited about his pressure cooker gift last month.

When that Piñata breaks open, my sister (the one who we visit for Christmas, the one who celebrates her birthday in April also) comes charging in to scoop up her share of the candy.  

We also found a shed from Craigslist.  We had been searching for something we could turn into a chicken coop.  It's been two years that I've wanted chickens.  Fortunately, this shed was right around the corner from where we live and my husband loved the fact that it had a tin roof.

The owner had little girls and I could not understand why he wanted to sell.  It was charming.  

We got it onto our property and within minutes, He-Man states it's too nice to convert to a chicken coop.  He's going to add onto the shed and nails this up to give me a visual of what it could look like with the sides extended. 

And sure enough, the building begins.  

I look forward to showing you the progress.  

Take care and thanks for stopping by 

Whippoorwill Road.

Love, 

Bernadine

A Major Whippoorwill Update

I would like to thank some of Whippoorwill's readers for checking on me during the last two months of blog silence.  Thank you for your concern, thoughts and prayers for our family and especially for Colson.  He's doing well in every way.  He's done with chemo.  His lab results are normal.  Now, we're just waiting for his hair to grow back.

Finally, the major update of what's been happening on Whippoorwill Road.  

November:

Thanksgiving Day, our refrigerator went out.  Yep, with a house full of family, it went "Ka-Put".  Though we avoid all shopping on Black Friday, Richard was forced to be part of the frenzy to buy a new fridge.  That very same day, Big Ol' Nasty Dog's right jaw swelled up incredibly.  Again, dropped a lot of money to cure the bacterial infection the vet said he gave to himself from scratching so much.  That dog! (sigh*)

Then came December:

The picture below is Colson at "Wally World", kicking up his heels after the very last chemo treatment.

Then, I took him to see his favorite long anticipated movie.  I think he's seen it three times!

I decided to keep Christmas super simple.  No big decorations this year, no tree.  I even made no-bake cookies with my little niece.  I have to say, it was a no stress holiday.  

  

Though we had no tree, my sister always decorates five!  We celebrated Christmas day at her home.  Nice!

The Saturday after Christmas, my son and his fiancé arrived.  We had a family dinner with them and my husband's brother and his family.

January:
He-Man and I were supposed to go to Las Vegas right after the first of the year.  Instead, we went to... Kentucky! oh well.
We've hired our neighbor, an arborist and landscaper, to replant our back property line.  

My dad got a pacemaker.  We drove him and my mom to a hospital in Atlanta on a very dark and stormy morning.  I'm so glad we could be with them.

This brings us to February:
I hosted a Bridal Shower for my future daughter in law on Saturday.  It came out so beautiful but whew!, I was so stressed over it.  We had furniture stashed in almost every room of the house.  Sofas in the garage, dining chairs in the master, tables in my daughters room, miscellaneous in the laundry room... You can only imagine!

It turned out really wonderful.  I had collected teacups for years when I lived in Massachusetts and I'm a firm believer in using all your treasures now.  So, everyone got a different teacup.  

The little girl in the blue (my cousins daughter), seemed to enjoy it most of all.  She delighted in drinking tea from her special cup.  It was a treasure for me to watch these two little ones pouring tea and feeling very grown up.  

                                                                 

Even Buns enjoyed the company.    

My son has found a gem.  We are thrilled to welcome her into our family.

Yesterday, before the SuperBowl, Colson helped my sister's son do a Power Point presentation for an Anti Smoking assignment.  Then, it was off to my sister's house for the game.  I wasn't invested in the teams so I could relax watching it.    

Ahhh, today has been a pajama recovery day.

Tomorrow it's off to Atlanta to find something for the wedding!

Just a few things that's happened on Whippoorwill Road.

Love, 

Bernadine

Happy Halloween... and an update.

Greetings and Happy Halloween from the aisle at Walmart! 

Since we don't get Trick or Treaters at our house (we live too far off the road, not in a subdivision either), this is about as exciting as it gets.  

Enjoy this evening with the kids.  Be safe.  Have fun. 

So I've been a little distracted lately and not kept up with posts.  Here's an update on our youngest son's recent diagnosis of testicular cancer.  
He's healed up nicely from surgery.  I thought there's no better time in a young man's life than to get him acquainted with the necessity of...  a pedicure!  Yep, I took him for his first foot grooming.  Results: it was a big hit.  He loved it and wants to do it again.  (His future wife can thank me now.  Not that he has anyone picked out yet or even in mind.  But one day, she will thank me.  Whoever she may be.) (And this sweet lady in the chair between us, was very nice to let me snap some photos without freaking out that she was in the shot.)

This past Monday was his first day of chemotherapy.  He came prepared:  He had shaved his head (didn't want to see it coming out in clumps); had purchased several books to read while getting treatment, loaded his iPhone with favorite tunes; brought his new blanket to keep him cozy and most importantly, had a huge bag of beef jerky to munch on. 
Just the picture of chillin' out, relaxing at the doctor's office.

He's a trooper.  Still going to college.  Still smiling.  Still making jokes.  I just love this kid.  Today is his third treatment.

Thanks for your thoughts, concerns, prayers and well wishes.

They mean so much to us on 

Whippoorwill Road.

Love,

Bernadine

"Mom, I found a lump..."

"Mom, I found a lump..."  It all started with these few words. Just two weeks ago, New-Man Colson, only 18 years old, uttered these words to me.

I was working outside in the yard with my second eldest son.  An immediate pit lodged in my stomach but not being one to give into panic or create panic, I calmly told him we'd call his doctor.  Within 2 hours, we were in the doctor's office.  

That was Friday, just two weeks ago.  Here's how fast things have moved, thanks to his family doctor:

• Monday, he had an UltraSound.  
• The very next day, on Tuesday, we were at the urologists office, getting the results.  It was highly indicative of a cancerous tumor.  
• On Thursday, he had a CT Scan.  Results would be after the weekend, on Tuesday.
• In the meantime, we went to Atlanta on Sunday to meet my future daughter-in-laws parents. (see previous post)  
• Then on Tuesday, we heard the dreaded words: Testicular Cancer! 
• Thursday was pre-operative clearance.  
• Friday, just yesterday, was surgery!  

signing his consent

a coworker starting his IV

keeping his sense of humor

heading to surgical waiting area

meeting his anesthetist, assistant surgeon and surgical nurses

his urologist/surgeon

getting medicine to relax and sedate him

and off he goes.

It's happened all so fast that we've really not had time to fret or worry too much.  We've read and researched what all this means for him.  I'm so grateful this boy  young man, listened to me when I told him to examine himself regularly.  This type of cancer strikes young men, 18-35 years, but the ages are getting earlier.  As young as 15 years old!  

in recovery

I'm also grateful, he told us about it, quickly.  He caught it in an early stage.  The cure rate is very high when caught early.  Sometimes, one surgery is all that is needed.  We're hoping that's the case here.
He's not done though.  There's still tests to run, doctor's to see, follow up appointments to go to and labs to be taken.  

He's handled this with courage, grace and humor.  And now, he has a message: he wants young men to know how important it is to examine themselves every month.  

So, if you have a son, grandson, nephew... please share this with them.  

Resting a little easier 

on Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine and Colson(aka: New-Man)